Desk construction



'July 5 1932 e. E. yRlcwmrunsol l 1,866,174

DESK CONSTRUCTION I Filed D00. `2.7, 1926 5 lSheel'fS--Sheet 1 /za 1,48 v f2@ /35 i zo ad fC-ff '49'43 145;; a; 34 9 '5 8% 54 C ll g 34 5 MQ@ f C26 31 l al w 3l 2 l igxl.. 29 46 9 26 40 mgm July 5, 1932- B. E. RICHARDsoN 1,356,174

DESK consrnuc'rron Filed Dec. 7, 1926 5 4Sheets-Sheet 2 l v, l t .4 s j .l .D W v IIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT M, nllllli Il w mi?! I IIIIIIIII 0 l f, a D n Y 1 l "P l un a W 5l IH. l .I L y lv l I 4 u i 1 July 5, 1932. B, E RlCHARDsQN i DESK coNs'rRUc'rIoN y Filed Dec. 27. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z8 35 36 27 rw 27 5 July 5, 1932.

` B. E. RICHARDSON 1,866,174

DESK CONSTRUCTION Filled nesA 27. 192s s sheets-sheet 4 July-5, 193.2 B. E. RICHARDSON "1,866,174

DESK CONSTRUCTION `Filed Dec. 27, 1926Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 nuanfov pearance of the desk.

)Patented july 5, E932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFic BAYARD E. RICHARDSON, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR F THREE-FOURTHS TO JOSEPH R. MCCARGAR, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN DESK CONSTRUCTION Application led December 27, 1926.' Serial No. 157,181.

This invention relates to a desk structure and is particularly concerned with the construction of a desk using sheet metal and wood in combination, and so constructing the desk that the metal parts are lpractically all covered and disguised when the desk is complete with the drawers therein, there appearing only edge portions of the metal used which are capable of being finished to simulate the appearance of wood. If desired, the metal .portions which appear in the front of the desk and also in the back (though this is not of any importance) may be given a distinctive finish which will add to the ap- A further object of the invention is to construct a desk so that its parts may be very quickly and readily assembled, by use of suitable connecting devices such as screws and tie bolts whereby the desk may be iinished as to the parts going to make up the same and these kept in stock from which desks may very quicklyand readily be assembled, after being shipped in knockdown form to a desired designation.

A still further object of the invention is to construct the interior drawer and slide carrying portions wholly of sheet metal making a very strong and durable construction and one which may be. housed within the sides and the rear panels of the desk construction and which is simply and easily assembled therewith.

Many other objects and purposes than those stated will be apparent as an understanding of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a front elevation of a desk made in accordance with my invention.

F ig.` 2is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical section through the upper portion of the desk, substantially midway between its sides.

Fig. Sis a fragmentary perspective detail of the construction at a front corner of the` metal drawer carrying construction.

Fig. 4 is a similar perspective detail of theA structure at and adjacent a rearv Corner thereof.

Fig. 5 illustrates, in perspective and partly in section, the parts which are used to make up a desk pedestal assembly and the adjacent intermediate drawer carrying unit disposed between the upper ends of the desk pedestals, the parts being shown in disassembled form.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the desk at one end thereof Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical transverse sect1on through one end of the desk.

- Fig. 8 1s an enlarged horizontal sectlonk through the desk at one end thereof, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower metal frame one of which is used with each desk pedestal.

Like reference characters refer to like parts what widened so as to make wider parts 3 (see Fig. 9) making in effect circles, at the centers of which, vertical openings are made.

The sides4 of the desk pedestals are of Woodand at each vertical front and rear edge are curved ,laterally as indicated at 5. These sides may be placed above the frame previously described with their lower portions bearing against the side moldings 2 and with their lower edges resting upon the side iianges l. They areheld in such position by a rectangular frame 6 of wood which is of a size that fits readily into the lower sheet metal frame and lies between the lower edge portions of the pedestal sides as shown in Fig. 6 separating them apart and holding them against the molding anges 2.

Above the frame 6 and resting thereon is the drawer and slide construction which, as' previously stated, is made wholly of sheet metal. This is best shown in Fig. 5 and the details of construction thereof in Figs.`3 and p 4. At the front, spaced a art vertical posts of sheet metal are locate each comprising a web 7, and an outwardly extending flange 8 at the rear ed e of the web and a curved flange 9 at the ont thereof. These posts, which are of substantially channel form, are used at the rear of the drawer carrying frame, being reversed in position so that the flange-8 is in front and the curved flange 9 is tothe rear. Between the posts horizontal bars of sheet metal for-slidably carrying the drawers and the usual slides are disposed each of said bars having vertical upper and lower flanges 10, extending from an intermediate horizontal U-shaped drawer guide 11, the anges 10 and the drawer guides 11 belng made from a single length of sheet metal. At their front ends the flanges 10 are turned outwardly at right angles making ears 12 bearing against the flanges 8 of the front `posts to which they are permanently connected by spot welding. The guides 11 adjacent the front ends are partly cut away, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the bend is removed, whereby gusset plates 13 of fiat metal may be located at one ed e between the upper `lower legs of said U- aped draw guides 11. The sset plates are permanently se- (lrllired in p ace by spot welding to the guides Between the front posts cross bars 14 also formed of 4sheet metal of U-shape are located and spot welded to the front edge portions of the gussets 13. --Within the channel made by anges 8 and 9 of the front-posts an angle bar havlng legs 15 and 16 is located and screw headed bolts 17 pass through the web 7 and the leg`15, the nuts thereof being at the outer vms sides of said leg 15.. It is apparent that by engaging the heads of the bolts 17 with a screw driver this angle bar described ma be drawn tightly s that the leg 15 will ear snuglly against the outer, side ofthe web 7.

T e rear corner posts, insofar as the channel formation including the web 7, flanges 8 and 9, and the angle member having the legs 15 and 16 are concerned is the same as that at the front. The web 7, however, lies against thevertical flanges 10 of the drawer guides and bolts 17a pass through the flanges 10, the web 7 and the leg 15. These bolts 17a are the same as the bolts 17 except that at the rear the bolts 17a do not need to have flat countersunk heads but may be of a round head formation. On the inner side of each of the vwebs 7 of the rear channel posts a second smaller channel of sheet metal is se-` cured b spot welding, it having a web 418, a Afront ange 19 inwardly turned at right angles to the web and a rearwardly turned flange 20 which curves opposite to the curved flange 9 on its adjacent post.

Adjacent the rear ends of and lying between each (pair of spaced apart horizontal drawer gui es is a cross bar of sheet metal 1,sse,174

having substantially like formation, namel a wide vertical flan e 21 and a rearward y extending intermedlate horizontal U-bend 22. The ends ofthe flanges 21 are bent rearwardly at ri ht angles to make ears 23 which are spot wel ed to the anges 10. vThe struclture is further reinforced by gusset plates 24 (see Fig. 4) which are connected to the U-portions 22 and the drawer supporting guides 11, the bends of the U-shaped guides 11 being cut away to receive the gusset plates which are likewise spot welded in place.

This construction of drawer and a' slide support, as a unit, may be placed on the frame 6, the same being let down from above between the opposed edges of the curved portions 5 of the pedestal sides, the edges of said parts 5 passing between flanges 9 and the legs 16. Then by tightening the bolts 17 and 17a said flanges 16 are brou ht tightly against the inner .sides of the eges of said curved portions 5 which bear with their. outer sides snugly against the edges of the curved flanges 9 both at the front and at the rear. Then to finish this part of the assembling a back panel 25 of wood is slid vertically downward in the guides formed between the flanges 19 and 20 of the channels which are located, one at the inner side of each rear post of the sheet metal drawer suppprting frame. As many pairs of drawer guides may be disposed between the upper and lower ends of the vertical corner postI as may be repanel' 25 of the pedestal. Said upper frame of'sheet metal is rectangular in sha with rounded outer corners having para el sides and ends, as indicated at 26, with a central rectangular openingv at which the metal is turned u wardly at right angles, as indicated at 2 this servin to reinforce and strengthen the frame. t the outer edges 'of the frame 26 it Vis formed into a continuous inverted groove 28 from which, at spaced intervals, horizontal ears 29 extend outward. The frame, when placed at the upper end of the pedestal, engages the upper edges of sides 4 with their curved end portions 5 and the upper edge 'of the panel`25 the same extending into the inverted groove 28 as-is evident.

Inorder Ito securely bind all the parts together and at the same time attach support-l ing legs or a base tothe pedestals, long tie rods 30 are used which pass' 'upwardl lquired or desired, this being a matter of delll Esi

ianges of the Vvertical angle clamps and finally through theopenings at the corners of the upper frame 26. The upper ends of the rods are threaded to receive n uts 33 (see. Fig. ti) while the lower ends of thel rodsare provided with heads 32 which are of rounded form and make suitable parts to engage the floor, equivalent in substantially all respects to the well known sheet metal domes now largelyused at the lower ends of the legs of various articles of furniture. Over the upper ends of the legs or feet 3l a cap 31a of sheet metal is placed. rlhe drawers'34 the slide 35 used are of conventional construction.

rihis completes a desk pedestal. In a desk two of the pedestals are used located a distance apart to make what is known as the well of the desk and, usually, between the pedestals, at the upper portion of the well, a center drawer is mounted. The construcwhieli l have devised for mounting the center di wer and separating the desk pedestais is also et sheet metal and is a unit of the desk ronstruction.

The vertical legs of these angle bars are4 spot welded to vertically disposed plates 38 which at the upper and lower edges are turned inwardly to make the. in eifect, corner gussets 39. The upper gussets 39 are attached at their ends to horizontal Z-bars 40, it being understood that said Z-'bars eX- tend between the ends of `said unit. In addition the plate 38 at the front is turned back upon itself in a U-shaped bend making an inner side 4l, which lies against the inner sides of the vertical legs ofthe angle bars 36 and 37 and is permanently secured thereto. Between the ends'of the lower angle bars 37 are sheet metal plates i2 and 43,-the former being at the rear lower side of the drawer and belowv the bottom etat thereof, while the front plate 43 lies over the upper edge portion of the bottom t4 and is curved downwardly around its front edge. An angle bar 45, see Fig. 5, extends around the rear upper edge of the bottom t4 and its endsabut against the vertical plates 38. A wooden back d6 bears against the rear face of the angle bar 45, being held thereagainstby the member 42. See Fig. 2. The upper edge of the back is screwed between the rear Z-bar l0 and an additional horizontal angle plate et? as shown in Fig. 5. The bottom all is permanently secured to the inturned gussets 39 at the lower ends of the plates 38 by screws. rThis unit is disposed between the two desk pedestals near their upper ends and is held by means of securing bolts which pass through suitable openings made in the front and rear plates 38 and through the adjacent inner sides 4 of the desk pedestals. Being open at the front this unit is adapted to slidably receive a drawer, such as indicated at 49 in Fig. 1.

The desk is completed by any conventional top 48 which is laid over the upper frames 26 of the pedestals and bears against the edges of the rim 27, the upper sides of the inverted groove 28 and against the upper flanges of the Z-bars 40. The top is connected by means of screws 50 which pass upwardly through the tongues or ears 29 into said top, while additional screws pass upwardly through suitable openings made in the horizontal upper. flanges of Z-bars 40. The construction of the desk described is one which effectively' combines sheet metal and wood, all of the advantages of strength and durability of metal being obtained and all of the attractiveness and desirable appearance of wood being retained. Furthermore, as is evident from the foregoing description, the various parts of the desk are readily manufactured as separate and complete elements or units and may be kept in stock and quickly and easily assembled into complete desk form. This permits shipment in disassembled form with the consequence of reduced transportation cost, while the assembling when the destination is reachedis accomplished with the use of no other tools than a. screw driver and wrench. The invention is capable of wide variation in detail of construction. Accordingly I do not wish to be limited in any respect to the specific detailed construction described but consider the invention as com prehensive of all forms of structiire coming within the scope of the appended claims detining thc invention.

I claim:

l. In a desk, a pedestal comprising, a lower metal frame having inwardly extending horizontal ianges and upwardly extending vertical flanges at the sides and ends thereof, wooden sides for the pedestal disposed above and resting on said horizontal iianges at their lower edges and bearing against the side vertical langes of the frame, a member located against the horizontal flanges of said frame and against the lower edge portions of said pedestal sides serving to hold the sameapart, a drawer carrying frame made wholly of sheet metal located above said member and resting thereon, a back panel located at the back of said pedestal. an upper rectangular metal frame located over the drawer carrying member and having means'to engage the upper edges of said pedestal sides and back panel, and rods extending upwardly through the lower metal frame adjacent its corners and thence through the metal upper frame having nut-s at their upper ends serving to bind the parts together.

2. A desk pedestal comprising, upper and lower rectangular sheet metal frames, Wood side members in spaced apart relation and a back panel located vertically between said frames, a drawer carrying unit located between said frames and between the sides of the pedestal, means on said upper and lower frames for retaining said side members and back panel against lateral movements and means for binding said frames, pedestal sides, back panel and drawer carrying unit detachably together.

3. A desk pedestal comprising, upper and lower rectangular sheet metal frames, a drawer carrying unit located between the frames, sides for the pedestal and aback panel located at the sides and back of said unit and engaged at their upper and lower edges by said upper and lower frames, and means for tightly clamping said upper and lower frames against the upper and lower edges of the sides and back panel, thereby securing the same together.

4. A desk pedestal comprising, upper and lower sheet metal frames-of substantially rectangular outline, sides and a back panel for the pedestal located between said upper and lower frames, a drawer carrying unit disposed between said upper and lower frames and between the sides of the pedestal, means for clamping the vertical edges of said pedestal sides and back panel to said unit, and means for binding the upper and lower sheet metal frames against the upperand lower edges of y said pedestal sides and back panel. l

5. In a desk, a .pedestal comprising, upper and lower sheet metal frames of substantially rectangular outline, sides and a back panel for the pedestal located between said frames, a drawer carrying unit located between the sides of the pedestal and between said upper and lower frames, means for clamping the vertical edges of said pedestal sides and back panel to said unit, rods extending upwardly through the corners of the lowermetal frame and through the corners of the upper frame, and nuts threaded on the upper ends of the rods against the upper metal frame for the purpose of clamping said frames against the upper end and lower edges of said sides and back panel.

6. A desk pedestal comprising in construction, a lower frame of sheet metal having inwardly extending continuous `horizontal flanges and upwardly extending continuous vertical flanges, sides anda back panel for the pedestal located on said frame within the side and back vertical flanges thereof, an upper sheet metal frame provided with an invertd'groove around its edges located over said sides and back panel, the upper edges thereof being received in the sides and back of the groove, a drawer carrying unit located between the sides of the pedestal and between said upper and lower frames, means for clamping the framesagainst the upper edges of said sides and back panel and means yfor damping the vertical edges of said sides to thedrawer carrying unit.

7. In a desk pedestal, lower and upper substantially rectangular frames of sheet metal, sides and a back panel of wood located between said frames, means for clamping said frames against the lower and upper edges of the sides and back panel, a drawer carrying unit located between said sides and between the upper andlower frames, said unit including four corner posts located adjacent the corners of the pedestal, and means for detachably clampin the front and rear edges of the pedestal sides to the corner posts and means for detachabl connecting the vertical edges of the bac panel -with said rear corner posts.

8. A desk pedestal comprising, lower and upper substantially rectangular frames of sheet metal, side and back panels of wood located between said frames, means for spacing the sides apart located b etween the lower ends thereof and carried by said lower frame, means for clamping said frames' against the lower and upper edges of the sides and back panel, a drawer carrying unit located between said sides and between the upper and lower frames, means for clamping the vertical edgesfof the pedestal sides to said unit, and rods extending upwardly through the lower and upper frame, sald rods being threaded at t I nuts to clamp the sald frames, unit and the pedestal sides and back panel together.

9. A desk pedestal comprising upper and lower metal rectangular frames, a metal drawer carrying'unit located between said frames, wood sides and a back panel located outside of said drawer carrying unit and clamped at their upper and lower edges between said frames, means for clamping the vertical edges of the sides to said unit, supporting legs located wholly below the lower frame' at the corners thereof, and headed rods extending upwardly through said supporting legs and the lower and upper frames, said rods `being threaded at their upper ends to receive nuts to bear. against the upper frame and clamp the parts together.

10. A desk pedestal com rising, -a lower substantially rectangular ame of' sheet metal, wood sides having inturned vertical edge portions carried on said frame in spaced apart relation, an upper substantially reef tangular metab frame provided with an inverted 'four corner posts, means for clamping the vertical inturnededges of said sides to the corner posts, a back panel disposed between the ba corner posts, means on said back eir upper ends and receiving` oove at its outer edges, said groove 'at the sldes of the frame receiving the 'upper zi iianges and upwardly extending vertical flanges, wood sides carried by said frame, the lower edges thereof resting on the side horizontal flanges, said wood sides having inturned edge portions, a board lying between the lower portions of said sides, holding the same apart and .against the vertical side flanges of the lower frame, a drawer carry-f ing unit made entirely of sheet metal and including four vertical corner posts located above said board, clamping means carried by the corner posts and engaging with the vertical edges of the the said unit and sides together, guides carried at the inner sides of the rear corner posts, a back panel slidably received at its vertical edges in said guides, an upper frame of sheet metal formed around its edges with an inverted groove located over said unit and sides and back panel of the pedestal, the up-` per edges of the sides and the upper edge of the panel being seated in saidgroove, and rods having headed lower ends passing upwardly through the horizontal flanges of the lower frame at the corners thereof alongside of the posts of the drawer carrying unit and through the upper metal frame, said rods be-v ing threaded at their upper ends to receive nuts whereby the parts' may be detachably secured together. i

l2. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 1l, said upper frame at its edges having horizontally extending ears with openings therethrough over which a desk top may be placed and secured by fastening means passing through said openings.

13. A desk comprising spaced apart pedestals, each including a metal drawer carrying unit, upper and lower metal frames between which the unit is placed, wood sides and a back clamped between said upper 'and lower frames, means connecting said sides and back directly to said unit, an intermediate drawer carrying frame located between the upper ends of the pedestals, means for detachably securing the same to the inner sides of the said pedestals, a top located over the upper frames of the pedestals and over said intermediate drawer carrying unit, and means for detachably connecting said top to the frames and intermediate drawer carrying unit.

14. A drawer carrying unit adapted to be applied to a desk comprising moet@ nach inpedestal sides for clamping sides of the pedestal, said unit including four ing flange at the inner edge of each web and a curved outer flange at the outer edge of each web, pairs of horizontal drawer guides connecting said posts, horizontal cross bars located between each pair of'drawer guides to define drawer receiving spaces, vertical angle clamping bars located, one against the outer side of the web of each post and including a leg which is adapted to bear against the web and a second outwardly extending leg at right angles thereto, I through the rst leg of each clamping bar and the web of the post which, when tightened, draw said clamping bars against the webs of said posts.

15e. A desk pedestal comprising a lower horizontal substantially rectangular frame, an upper horizontal substantially rectangular frame both frames being of sheet metal, desk pedestal sides having inturned vertical edges carried between said frames at opposed .sides.thereof, a drawer carrying unit disposed between said frames and between the vertical corner posts'and horizontal drawer guides and cross bars connecting the same and defining drawer receiving spaces, each of said posts comprising a vertical web, an outturned inner flange and a laterally and rearwardly curved front flange, the inturned vertical edges of said pedestal sides coming within the edges of said curved flanges of the corner posts, angle clamping bars connected one to each post and lying within the vertical edge portions of said pedestal sides, means for drawing said clamping bars against ,the webs ofl said corner posts to clamp said sides, a back panel located between the back corner posts, and means for binding' said lower and upper frames against the lower and upper edges of the pedestal sides and back panel, said lower and upper frames having means for holding the lower and upper edges of the pedestal sides and back panels against lateral movement.

16. A desk pedestal comprising, an upper and lower horizontal frame, vertical side members located between said frames, means on the upper frame to retain the side members against lateral movements, an upturned flange on the lower frame located outside of the vertical side members, a bottom located inside of the vertical side members and resting on the lower frame and means extending between and bearing against the upper and vlower frames to clamp them against the respective upper and lower edges of the side members.

17. A desk pedestal comprising, upper and lower horizontal frames, vertical side members located between said upper and lower frames, means on said frames to retain the side members against latera movements, 'legs lmmfml hmmm nu 1 in 1 AMA.. .Ei

and bolts passing- 6 reserva tween said upper and lower frames to clamp said legs to t e lower frame and to clamp the upper and lower frames against the respective upper and lower edges of the side members. 5 18. A desk pedestal comprising, upper and y lower horizontal frames, vertical side members located between said upper and lower frames, means on said frames to retain the side members against lateral movements, legs 10 located beneath said lower frame and means y extending through said legs and said upper and lower frames to clamp said legs to said lower frame and to clamp said lower frame against the respective lower edges of the side 15 members.

19. A desk pedestal com rising, an upper horizontal frame and a v ower horizontal frame,'vertical-side members located between said frames, means on said frames to retain 20 said side members against lateral movements,

- legs located under said lower frame, means on said lower frame for positioning said legs thereon, and means associated with s'aid legs and extending between the 'upper and lower 6 frames to clamp said legs against said lower frame'A and torclamp said upper and lower frames against the respective upper and lower edges of said side members. e 20. A desk pedestal comprising, upper' and l0 lower rectangular sheet metal frames, a I-drawer carrying unit located between the frames, sides for the pedestal and a back panel located at the sides and back of said unit and engaged only at their upper and lower 85 edges by said upper and lower frames, and means for tightly clamping said upper and lower frames against the upper and lower edges of the sides and back panel, thereby` securing the same together.

` l0 In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

BAYAID E. RICHARDSON. 

